I Come From Nowhere(?)

My dissertation–if you hadn’t already gathered–focuses on the convergence of popular and classical music streams that informs much of Frank Zappa’s music. This confluence means different things in different places (for both Zappa and his audience), but it seems to me to be a defining characteristic that runs through all of his work. My questions here are: Why would this be such an important aspect of his work? and, What influenced him in thinking this way?

Strictly Genteel

On the one hand, Zappa was trying to establish for himself a reputation as a composer of serious art music. His reasons for this are, of course, open to debate, but Zappa was always quick to point out that his ambitions were aesthetically motivated. He was introduced to the modernist music of Stravinsky and Varèse around the same time he began collecting blues and R&B records. Zappa recognized that the disparate styles were commonly seen to be at odds with one another. But since both appealed to him personally, he tried to share this experience of music free from social implications. The obvious way of doing this would be to synthesize these different styles in his own work.

On a slightly different angle, it seems to me that the obvious appeal (and associated cultural capital) of being a respected artist was an equally significant factor. Zappa clearly admired Stravinsky and Varèse (and Webern and Cage, among others) and that he would want to model himself on his “idols” almost goes without saying.

But where does this all come from? What streams (cultural, social, musical) does he fit into? Despite his claims to originality, it seems unlikely that Zappa developed in a bubble.

To begin with, I suspect it may have had something to do with the conservative cultural climate of Southern California in the 1940s and 50s. Zappa saw this environment as oppressive and felt claustrophobic in the rural deserts communities of his youth. For me, Zappa’s self-identification as an outsider is neatly summarized in this 1970 photograph by John Olson of Frank posing with his parents Francis and Rosemary in their home Frank’s Los Angeles home [thanks Corné!]:

Zappa with parents

(Of course, by 1970 Frank had long been out of the house so this picture doesn’t offer an authentic vision of Zappa’s youth. Nonetheless, I think the picture captures much of the spirit of Zappa and his rebellious culture at odds with conservative values, while at the same time offering some ambiguity as to who really belongs in this environment.)

While still a child, he found refuge in the modernist avant-garde. (He would delight in his mother’s recoiling at the sound of Varèse’s sirens being played on the family turntable.) These composers offered a safe mode of rebellion for Zappa in a remarkable way. They were accepted artists–undeniably respectful members of society–whose music had a similar effect with adults to what teenagers experienced with heavy metal in the 1980s.

But I don’t think it ends there. As significant as his rebellion against perceived conservative oppression was, I think there’s something deeper. In discussing when the dichotomy between classical and popular entered the American consciousness, Paul Charosh writes:

We would be mistaken to assume that this division between types of music reflects a simple division between two sets of listeners, one group seeking edification and uplift from classical music and a separate group looking to popular music for a cure for the blues. Some favored light music over serious; others preferred classical music to the popular; but many enjoyed both types of music on different occasions, for different purposes.[1]

Charosh is referring to mid-18th century listeners, but this characterization seems to have some resonance with Zappa’s sentiments a century later. Is this a constant stream in American musical consciousness? Did Zappa inherit this dual validity of opposing musical streams?

For that matter, who else was a part of this? Zappa consistently sought to establish himself as being counter-counterculture. But even as he defined himself against the hippie movement and the politics of the New Left in the 1960s, he took certain aspects of their motivations as his own. Can we consider Zappa to be a part of these movements even if he explicitly denies accepting them?

For now, these thoughts are very preliminary. I don’t have the answers to these questions. (Yet!)

References:
[1] Paul Charosh, “‘Popular’ and ‘Classical’ in the Mid-Nineteenth Century,” American Music, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Summer, 1992), 126.
I Come From Nowhere(?)

32,946 thoughts on “I Come From Nowhere(?)

  1. 2020 magista orden fg

    kendrick lamar nike cortez 3 nike lebron soldier 12 kids roja leather chaqueta with fur collar authentic champions league ball new balance 1550 2020 new jordans 2019 tourist trophy belstaff vans old skool rumba

  2. backpack lizzie ramsey rae boutique

    roze dames kleding ajo hoge hakken su猫de slingbacks marc cain essentials blouse nike air max oketo sneaker zwart sleehakken online kopen leren sandalen pumps van yokono natural shoes 39 lentiggini jongens baby zwembroek exclusieve grote maten mode

  3. 218 讻诇讬 注讘讜讚讛 讞砖诪诇讬讬诐 讘讜砖 bosch 专讜讝谞驻诇讚

    nine west grey pointed toe pumps228 best tennis sneakers runrepeatgrey cycling shortst shirts for mens best women t hiphop streetwear blue cotton short sleeve t

  4. recommande pas cher escarpins trotteurs chaussure myma

    torby reklamowe 艣l膮sk wiert艂o do betonu sds plus 10 x 160 mm s4 piè´¸rnik szkolny podwè´¸jny z wyposa偶eniem coolpack jumper 2 pastel leaves nr lutownica punktowa jak czy艣ci膰 grot 1 balony 5 na pi膮te urodziny 6 sztuk sb14p 265 000 6 case na huawei y6 dc but…

  5. gitman vintage camp gone fishing shirt

    we begin our ascent 9781501169205 Sandals men casual sandals shoes sandals womens 8102714 lulu toffee tan fitflop miami dolphins sport slider sandals slides betani womens strappy open toe block heeled sandal 7 b m us gold adidas mens climacool revo 3 s…

  6. baby slip gr枚脽e 80

    idee albero di natale 2019 tendenze e addobbi bellera canguro 300 kaki brown marrone scarpe da trekking e collezioni alla moda set smalti semipermanenti in offerta swatch orologio uomo digitale quarzo con braccialetto in acciaio inossidabile occhiali d…

  7. 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銉曘儹銉炽儓 銈搞儍銉戙兗 绔舵吵 姘寸潃銇€氳博

    fashion letter 銈枫儳銉笺儷銈儵銉?銉溿儸銉?銉夈儸銈广偢銉c偙銉冦儓 銉併偋銉笺兂銉掋兗銉偝銈ゃ兂銉兗銉曘偂銉?/a> 璨″竷 鏈潻 灏忛姯鍏ャ倢 銉°兂銈?ykk瑁?l瀛椼儠銈°偣銉娿兗 銈炽偆銉炽偙銉笺偣 銉熴儖璨″竷 銉儑銈c兗銈?銉戙償銉ㄣ兂 銈儍銈恒儔銉偣 琚栥偝銉炽偡銉c偣 銉兂銈般儔銉偣 鐧鸿〃浼?å©•æ–¿îš” 绲愬寮忋伀銉嬨儍銉堛伅ng 鍐伄绲愬寮忋儔銉偣 鏈嶈銇優銉娿兗 濠氱ぜ琛h b boy.銈广儓绯?瓒呯編鍝?nike sb 銉儛銉笺…

  8. mu拧ke tenisice 4150 2 sportska obu膰a

    air max 2010 20 euro adidas superstar nouvelle collection paris trust kenzo bottines et boots homme abrasivato calf nouveau homme femme nike vapormax flyknit be true bleu pas sneakers puma cabana racer sl v inf 76 puma white gray violet o霉 trouver les…

  9. boots caoutchouc homme

    jd sport jogging homme soutien gorge implicite pas cher les robes pas cher site italien vetement soutien gorge adhesif pour dos nu sweat a capuche noir uni chaussure rouge garcon coque converse samsung 2017 a3

  10. artes marciais infantil

    bexiga com g谩s h茅lio pre莽o polishop modelador cachos t锚nis keds champion woman canvas cal莽ados masculinos tamanhos grandes site de roupas na moda comprar piccadilly online tipos de pisada para comprar tenis jaqueta nike olimpiadas brasil

  11. baseball sapka h铆mz茅s budapest 1001rekl谩maj谩nd茅k.hu

    tech e mail letæžšlt茅se ingyenes szoftverrel kæžšræžšmcip艖k rendeljen online a otto webè°©ruhè°©zè°©ban pepe jeans n艖i k茅zi vè°©ll laptop tè°©ska tè°©skè°©k n艖i ç…¤j h m l es kismama pè´¸lè´¸ fels艖 blake hamis eml茅kek sci fi kæžšnyv kritika brooks swift titanium ker茅kpè°©r nyereg r…

  12. mister spex kontaktlinsen

    schutzh眉lle f眉r macbook air 13 zoll jogginganzug gr 146 organic kleidung shop laufschuhe damen beratung comfort schuhe f眉r damen brooks adrenaline gts 12 damen heine dekoartikel in rot nike sporthose herren

  13. supply demand gucci blanket black tee

    dettagli su mocassini con tacco donna car shoe camoscio nero birkenstock marillia anello cabochon eleganza stefano mortari rosa donna cardigan 55 lino lavorato a scarpe adidas tutte bianche tendenza sabot primavera estate 2016 shoes stylosophy dettagli…

  14. texo sport navy mellesnadrè°©g

    nike sportswear dunk sky hi wedge sneaker black 528899 015 lyst birkenstock mens arizona slip ons in green for men manufacturer of centrifugal jet pumps two stage centrifugal adidas originals adilette striped velvet slides mens skechers relaxed fit gar…

  15. bucket hat for men lake bucket hat orvis

    nike swoosh h86 hat legion green white vegas golden knights apparel gear port authority c112 snapback trucker cap grey steel neon yellow new era x ncaa fitted baseball cap cheveux childrens beanie black yj 847 diversions youth kids green bay packers 47…

  16. lå¿™derhandsker

    badeforhå¿™ng imerco supreme bukser kontorstol bilka hummel dunjakke bé…¶rn bademæ°“tte hvid kraftig sé…¶lv halskå¿™de louise roe design vest med hå¿™tte kvinder

  17. stone island outlet 2018

    copertina x culla misure gucci borse must have 2019 sandalo alla schiava oro giocattoli x bimbe panske tasky na rameno scarpe da calcio con linguetta collana jordan puzzle 3d per bambini

  18. pin on plus size swim i want it

    red bull spect goggles barrier 007 red bull shop uscute boy bibs buy baby care online at best prices clubbatman cosplay the joker costume purple trench coat greatoftbuy 2019 parka real fur coat winter jacket women natural fox fur collar warm loose blac…

  19. fermeture 茅clair 20 cm

    school bag mickey mouse pier one scarpe opinioni nike air pippen 3 donna marrone under armour men shoes beige superstar 80s metal toe bambino caffe mens nike dart 10 nike air max 2011 leather pantaloni tuta converse uomo prezzi

  20. huaraches terra

    marcas zapatos mujer chile polos tommy hilfiger hombre outlet toallas speedo natacion coche baby kits 3 ruedas new season gucci slides cruzado magico playtex sin aros mens negro gucci hat plano de caba

  21. kerti hinta谩gy t枚bb sz铆nben ingyen sz谩ll铆t谩s orsz谩gszerte

    kjoler i lys græ°“ lys græ°“ kaffe kjole kjoler pigesko med sé…¶lvhå¿™l slutsalg m眉sli sengerand navy ké…¶b her med gratis fragt og find puky cykler pæ°“ dba ké…¶b og salg af nyt og brugt side 3 maanesten una kå¿™deé…¶reringe sé…¶lv teletubbies taler sagte legeté…¶j dipsy n…

  22. kobiety i historia nellie z domu

    rockandblue eve svart dam jackor online m盲rken bluzka w paski turkusowy dstreet kurtka m臋ska m艂odzie偶owa z napisem w domodi vidaxl barna vè°©szon 茅s valè´¸di b艖r k茅zitè°©ska 40 x 53 cm kurtka narciarska salomon express w wahlmans erbjuder skæžšna kalsonger til…

  23. baseball cleats size 11

    timberland madison nike 95s green Footasylum gel lyte 3 asics for sale blue ankle boots womens air max 2015 mens finish line brooks trail running shoes womens ralph black label bench leggings

  24. jonak sandali con la zeppa rouge zalando pelle

    havep proban amerikaanse overall 2560 korenblauw maat 48 sunflair badpak zwart 72156 suzuki motoren te koop tweedehands en nieuw nike hoodie zwart dames grease jasje t birds goedkoop in 2018 gouden sieraden archieven ff makkelijk gucci guilty platinum…

  25. paramour curve new york

    coupon for harbor freight tools smart promo code for cut and stack king printing solutions dewalt 7 cobalt screw machine drill bits 12 custom made pens for all ratchet clothing brand canon inkjet refill kit for canon black inkjet cartridges mens leathe…

  26. large backpack dimensions

    magliette converse bambino arancione puma ferrari online nike magista onda fg wolf grey nike watch kids adidas superstar 1 yellow adidas condivo 16 padded jacket womens designer handbag sale migliori scarpe per trail running

  27. gouden shirt lange mouwen dames kleding

    saffiano leren converteerbare rugtas schoudertas patty spectral next design tv meubel spectral tv meubels nike trainingsbroek tech fleece nsw groen grijs zwart leren jassen online dames dekbedovertrek 270 breed rehab spyke ii geklede schoen kostuum zwa…

  28. sandali con tacco alto beige

    k眉ls艖 kutatè°©s n艖i kalapok k眉lt茅ri bonis chelsea boots b艖r magasszè°©rç…¤ f茅rfi cip艖 bokacsizma ecco b艖r cip艖 40 es futè´¸blog pè´¸lè´¸ rendel茅s futè´¸blog hdi cs铆kos szoba mamusz piros 茅s rè´¸zsasz铆n pè´¸lè´¸varè°©zs budapest egyedi pè´¸lè´¸ nyomtatè°©s 茅s g茅pi h铆mz茅s fd evostr…

  29. break limit muæ‹§ki æ‹§orc za kupanje

    melni vannas istabas gr墨das pakl膩ji uz manekeniem ra啪ot膩jiemlaptop keyboard for lenovo thinkpad t460 t470 t460s t470smese膷ni horoskop za septembar 2019. godine n1 srbijaneobi膷na fotelja za ljuljanje lux life luksuzni portal

Comments are closed.